Parks & Recs
June 26, 2023
Hikers Are Dying on Texas Trails in Severe Heat
Recent tragedies in Big Bend and Palo Duro Canyon are a reminder to “respect the desert,” says one ranger.
Big Bend
Big Bend National Park and the majestic area around it represents the mythos of Texas more than any other part of the state. It is also home to some of the most beautiful vistas the state has to offer, including the Chisos and Chinati mountain ranges and a stretch of the darkest night skies in the continental United States.
Travel & Outdoors
June 22, 2023
National Parks Urgently Need More Funding, Says Outgoing Big Bend Superintendent
“There’s a tremendous disconnect between the expectations of the American public . . . and the National Park Service’s ability to do those things,” says Bob Krumenaker.
Critters
May 30, 2023
The Hell Pig, the Texas Titanosaur, and Seven Other Outlandish Beasts That Once Roamed Big Bend
West Texas is home to some of the world's most spectacular fossils, from the gentle moose camel to the fearsome tusked swamp beast.
Books
March 24, 2023
Her Grandfather Dug For Fossils in Big Bend. Now Her Photos Celebrate His Spirit of Adventure.
Sarah Wilson's ‘DIG’ combines photos, her grandfather’s Kodachrome teaching slides, and creatively staged paleontological artifacts.
Sports
February 6, 2023
Four Items for Kyrie Irving’s Texas Bucket List
The NBA guard can search for the Earth’s edge in Big Bend and bone up on JFK conspiracy theories when he’s not getting buckets in Dallas.
Politics & Policy
February 6, 2023
A Celebrated West Texas Archaeologist Has Been Fired—and No One Will Say Why
Acclaimed for his research on the Big Bend region and the Porvenir massacre, David Keller was suddenly marched out of Sul Ross State University in December.
Texas Icons
January 17, 2023
Big Bend, Big Crowds
What happens when hundreds of thousands of people go to the same place looking for a little quiet time? One of our two national parks is finding out.
Books
October 25, 2022
Meet the Next Great American Travel Brand
Wildsam field guides have more in common with indie zines than with Fodor’s or Lonely Planet. Ten years in, the road less traveled is paying off.
Meanwhile, in Texas
August 12, 2022
Meanwhile, in Texas: Roads Melted in the Excessive Heat
Plus, a man stole $10,000 worth of bleachers, and landscapers discovered human remains in a backyard barbecue pit.
Travel & Outdoors
June 21, 2022
Paddling Down the Rio Grande in the Shadow of a Drought
My dream of navigating through Big Bend’s stunning canyons finally came true. I just had to start a little farther downstream.
Business
June 16, 2022
Meet the Yucca Whisperer of West Texas
Near Fort Stockton, Hoven Riley has been quietly growing more than 20,000 of the prized plants, which are being illicitly uprooted from public and private lands to meet a growing demand.
Politics & Policy
June 14, 2022
Farewell to the Last Frontier
For decades, Terlingua was a refuge for cowboys, wanderers, and weirdos. Now it’s an increasingly popular getaway for well-heeled urbanites.
Travel & Outdoors
April 27, 2022
First Look: The $22 Million Makeover of Big Bend National Park’s Chisos Mountains Lodge
Tentative plans call for the beloved dining-hall structure to be rebuilt and modernized—with even better views.
Texas Country Reporter
March 31, 2022
The Man Known as the “Big Bend Photographer” Reflects on His Life’s Work
Texas Country Reporter revisits James H. Evans after thirty years. His long career has taken different turns, but his unwavering commitment to the people and places of West Texas defines his legacy.
Travel & Outdoors
March 17, 2022
The “Keep Big Bend Wild” Effort Aims to Forever Protect Texas’s First National Park
Designating Big Bend as a federal wilderness area, advocates say, will ensure it stays rugged for decades to come.
Travel & Outdoors
January 7, 2022
Folks, Please Don’t Mess With Texas Rock Art
Some idiots carved their names on prehistoric petroglyphs in Big Bend—and it's part of a disturbing spike in vandalism.
True Crime
September 9, 2021
Who Shot Walker Daugherty?
A shoot-out at a Big Bend ranch captured the nation’s attention: first as an alleged ambush by undocumented migrants, then as a fear-mongering hoax. The real story is much more mysterious.
Critters
July 28, 2021
Do Not Fear the “Land Lobster From Hell” Skittering Across West Texas
Yes, it has fearsome pincers and shoots acid when threatened. But it’s essentially harmless!
Travel & Outdoors
June 17, 2021
Holy Smoke! Texas Has Actual Volcanoes. Here’s Where to See Ten of Them.
They’ve been extinct for millions of years, so you'll just need a little imagination—and this handy guide.
Food & Drink
April 9, 2021
A Hedonist’s Guide to Dining in and Around Big Bend
For a food obsessive like me, Big Bend’s culinary scene rivals the nature.
Travel & Outdoors
January 26, 2021
As More Novices Head to the Wilderness, Rescues Are Spiking at Some Texas State Parks
Big Bend Ranch State Park and Enchanted Rock State Natural Area both saw a 50 percent surge in backcountry rescues last year.
Travel & Outdoors
January 16, 2021
Sanderson Is an Underrated, Adventurous West Texas Escape
This scrappy town on the edge of the Big Bend region has a trendy motel, pistol-packing waitresses, and starry nights aplenty.
Politics & Policy
December 17, 2020
2020 Has Been Awful, but It Was a Good Year for State and National Parks
Two major conservation funding victories could create a brighter future for Texas's public lands.
Film & TV
November 2, 2020
Sweeping Landscapes and Other Soothing Texas Videos to Assuage Your Election Day Anxiety
Ahead of tomorrow’s nail-biter, we present a grab bag featuring a Big Bend documentary, Beyoncé clips, the Houston Zoo’s baby animal playlist, and more.
Critters
July 23, 2020
Why Black Bears Are Returning to Texas
Contrary to what a viral video suggests, it’s unrelated to the pandemic.
Country Notes
May 20, 2020
The Signs of the Big Bend Are a Sign of the Times
Some were written long ago. Some appeared this year. But whether it’s a sign about snakes or a sign about diesel fried chicken, a simple message seems to mean the most.
Travel & Outdoors
April 3, 2020
Big Bend National Park Is Closed for Now
In what’s normally the beloved park’s peak season, officials make the call for the safety of employees and area locals during the pandemic.
Parks & Recs
March 19, 2020
Is It Okay to Visit Texas Parks During the Coronavirus Pandemic?
Spending time outdoors is good for mental health. But as COVID-19 spreads in Texas, officials and citizens are grappling with whether, and how, we can enjoy public parks.
Country Notes
October 16, 2019
A Lone Postman Delivers the Mail to the Far Reaches of the Big Bend
Not many people will drive the mail to places the U.S. Postal Service won’t. Seventy-one-year-old Gilbert Lujan is one of them.
Parks & Recs
August 20, 2019
What’s on the Horizon for Big Bend National Park
After an eventful first year as superintendent, Bob Krumenaker has a vision for the park’s future as it celebrates its 75th anniversary.
Business
January 10, 2019
How Texas Parks and Historic Sites Are Dealing With the Government Shutdown
Volunteers and others step in to help maintain Big Bend, the San Antonio missions, and other beloved sites, but fears about lasting damage grow as the impasse drags on.
Parks & Recs
January 3, 2019
Big Bend Ranch State Park: Where Nothing Is Everything
The untouched vastness of the largest state park in Texas makes you feel like you’re exploring a whole other world.
Country Notes
June 22, 2018
A Land’s End: The Story of Casa Piedra
Ninety-three-year-old Armando Vasquez tells of a place that used to be.
Travel & Outdoors
March 22, 2018
Ten Hikes That Will Take You to Another World
From the red-rock canyons of the Panhandle to the towering forests of the Piney Woods, some of the best parts of our state are accessible only by foot.
Travel & Outdoors
March 21, 2018
West Texas Hikes That Will Take You to Another World
These mountain hikes will take you to new heights—and new extremes.
Travel & Outdoors
February 12, 2018
Spring Break Itinerary: The Best of West Texas
What to do, where to eat, and more if you’re heading to Fort Davis, Marfa, Marathon, and/or Big Bend this season.
Style & Design
February 4, 2018
Five Finds: A San Antonian’s glamorous life, an Austin art show, and more
What Texas Monthly's style contributors are inspired by right now.
The Texanist
January 27, 2018
The Texanist: Any Recommendations for a Big Bend Newbie?
A 39-year resident of Houston is gearing up for his first experience of the greatest road trip Texas has to offer.
Travel & Outdoors
January 15, 2018
Adventurers Explore Both Sides of Border in 1,200-mile Journey Along the Rio Grande
Over three installments, we follow a film team as they—by bike, horse, and canoe—document how a physical wall would affect the area, water, and its people.
The Daily Post
December 5, 2017
How Big Bend Ranch State Park Earned Its Dark Sky Designation
What does it take to protect the stars of West Texas? A year of persuasion, counting light fixtures, and traversing 315,000 acres under a moonless sky.
Travel & Outdoors
October 19, 2017
Next Time You Travel in Texas, Stay in a Hostel
For an affordable stay in a new city, with built-in friends.
Style & Design
April 27, 2017
The Big Bend Open Road Race
We found fast cars, big skies, and a whole bunch of daredevils at this annual high-speed race weekend out west.
Travel & Outdoors
September 21, 2016
A Love Unearthed
My grandfather’s work as a paleontologist took him to West Texas over and over again. Fifty years later, I found myself retracing his steps.
The Culture
April 20, 2016
The Doctor Is Out
A day in the life of a mobile large-animal veterinarian.
Travel & Outdoors
February 24, 2016
Bloom of the Century
Big Bend roared back to life last year after spring rains unleashed a bounty of ocotillos, bluebonnets, and yuccas. Thankfully, photographer James H. Evans was there to capture it in living color.
Travel & Outdoors
February 11, 2016
InstaTexas: The Stars At Night…
Are big and bright—and ready for their close-up.
Travel & Outdoors
February 4, 2016
5 Texas Spring Break Spots
It's never too early (or too late) to plan your escape.
Music
December 3, 2015
C3 Presents Hired A Lobbyist For The Right To Host Events At National Mall
The festival titan wants access to government-owned lands for its events.
Travel & Outdoors
October 22, 2015
InstaTexas: Wanderlust
The Instagram accounts that’ll have you itching to take a Texas road trip.
Travel & Outdoors
October 15, 2015
6 Great Outdoorsy Texas Adventures
Our great big beautiful backyard awaits.